Garden Planner, Oct. 5

Oct. 4, 2013

Written by

Stephanie Bruner

Special to the Register

This week

• Dry indoor air is a big problem for houseplants over the winter.

Fill a tray with pebbles, then set the plants on the pebbles and fill the tray with water to keep the air around the plants a little more humid. Plastic boot trays work well for larger plants, or you can use old baking dishes or cookie sheets, too. (Don’t set a water-filled tray on your good furniture, though, as moisture can build up underneath.)

• Speaking of houseplants, check to be sure they’re not toxic to pets or children.

• Pets, kids and houseplants can also lead to smashed pots and dirt on the floor. But most houseplants will survive a spill, as long as most of the roots are still attached to most of the stems! Repot the plant in a similar-sized container, and cut back any broken stems. The plant may be a little lopsided for a while, but most plants will bounce back just fine.

• Many herbs thrive in the house over winter. Basil, oregano, chives, rosemary and sage all enjoy a sunny south or west window, and they’ll all tolerate dry indoor conditions well, too. Many grocery stores and garden centers are carrying small plants you can pot up into bigger containers. Rosemary can be moved outdoors in spring and kept for years. And you can dig a clump of chives out of your garden, cut them back hard, and let them regrow in a sunny spot.

This month

• Should you clean off your perennial garden? You definitely need to cut back peonies and bearded iris to prevent disease problems. And it’s a good idea to cut back the tops of any other perennials that had powder mildew, as well as raking up any fallen leaves, to prevent reinfestation next year. But many perennials, like tall sedum, coneflowers and ornamental grasses, add a lot of winter interest to the garden and provide a food source for birds.

Stephanie Bruner is a freelance writer from Des Moines who has a degree in horticulture.